The National Museums of Scotland have two months to raise more than £1m to save an historic hoard for the nation.
The Art Fund has given £400,000 to the effort by the National Museums (NMS) pay for the Galloway Hoard of Viking-age material, but the institution still has "some way to go" to reach the £1.98m required.
The contribution comes as the NMS launches a public fundraising campaign to help reach the target.
The NMS need to raise the funds to officially receive the "unparalleled" fund of gold, silver and jewelled treasures, with the amount going to its finder, metal detectorist Derek McLennan.
Mr McLennan and Sharon McKee discovered the Galloway Hoard in 2014.
The cache of riches, which is the property of the Crown, was officially allocated to the NMS in May by the Queen’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (QLTR).
The NMS were given six months to raise the sum for an 'ex gratia' payment for the finders.
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland, said: "We have been delighted by the response to this opportunity to secure this unique hoard of Viking-age treasure.
"We are grateful to Art Fund for their generous support, and we have received numerous pledges and donations from trusts and individuals.
"However, we still have some way to go to meet our target of just under £2 million.
"With just two months left to raise the necessary funds we are appealing to the public to help us secure this exceptional treasure and enable as many people as possible to enjoy it now and in the future."
Dr Stephen Deuchar, director of Art Fund, said: "The Galloway Hoard will fundamentally shift our understanding of Viking-age Scotland, and shine new light on connections between Scotland and its European neighbours.
"We're delighted to be supporting National Museums Scotland as they endeavour to raise the funds necessary to save this peerless hoard, and to be contributing to its acquisition."
A selection of items from the hoard is currently on temporary display at the National Museum of Scotland.
The hoard comprises in excess of 100 gold, silver and other items which were buried at the beginning of the tenth century.
In addition, there are several other parcels within the hoard containing an outstanding range of exceptional precious metal and jewelled items including a rare gold ingot, a gold bird-shaped pin and a decorated silver-gilt cup of continental or Byzantine origin.
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